Congratulations to our October 2011 Young Artist Award recipient, Alex Wilborn from Baxter, Tennessee. Alex is a senior at Upperman High School where he performs as section leader and soloist of the Symphonic Band under the baton of Director of Bands Kyle Netherton, who states: “Alex is a highly motivated young man who takes on any challenge with great zeal and a maturity level not commonly found in students his age. His tireless work ethic and dedication to music have already opened the door to potential future success in our art.” Alex has appeared as a soloist with his high school band performing memorized renditions of Méndez’s La Virgen de la Macarena and Philip Starke’s Manhattan.
In 2008, Alex was first chair trumpet in the Tennessee All-State Band and in 2009 performed as lead trumpet for the All-State Jazz Ensemble. Since his freshman year Alex has been consistently selected as principal trumpet in numerous regional and university music festivals and honor bands. During the 2010 school year, Alex performed at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts festival as a recital soloist and lead trumpet for the symphonic and jazz ensembles. 2011 was a rewarding musical year as well for Alex, with a first place win in the University of Kentucky solo competition and a scholarship to attend the Sewanee Music Festival. Alex has performed in masterclasses with Anthony Plog, Phil Collins, Michael Ellzey, and the Brass Quintet of the United States Army Band in Washington, DC.
In addition to his trumpet activities, Alex plays in the high school percussion ensemble and is learning secondary wind instruments under the supervision of his band director. During the rest of his busy day as a high school senior, Alex can be found in numerous honors classes and is a member of the chemistry club.
Alex studies privately with Charles Decker, Tennessee Tech University professor of trumpet and TTU’s Director of Jazz Studies Chris McCormick. He plans to hit the audition trail this year pursuing a major in music education. As our October 2011 Young Artist Award winner, Alex Wilborn will receive a one-year complimentary membership in ITG.
About the Editor: Jean Moorehead Libs received her B.M.E and M.M. in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music while studying with Prof. Emeritus Clifford P. Lillya; she continued at Michigan doing Post Graduate and Doctoral studies with Armando Ghitalla, Prof. Emeritus and former Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.